Center support for tube frames



Sept. 26, 1939 w, ROBERTSON 2,173,981

CENTER SUPPORT FOR TUBE FRAMES Filed May 16, 1938 lnv enter Wi mam WRobertson Attorney Patented Sept. 26, 1939 PATENT OFFECE CENTER SUPPORT FOR T'UBE FRAMES William W. Robertson,

Northboro, Mass, as-

signor to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application May 16, 1938, Serial No. 208,198

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in Axminster looms and it is the general object of the invention to provide a simple and durable intermediate support for a tube frame as the latter 5;; moves toward and from tuft forming position.

Axminster looms operate with tube frames which are transported by conveyor chains to transfer position, where transfer arms detach the tube frame from the chains and lower it to tuft .1 forming position. The tube frame is then rolled .or tipped to place the tuft yarns through the binder warps, after which the tube frame is raised for the purpose of pulling off sufficient tuft yarn to form the row of tufts next to be drawn from the Q same tube frame. It has been customary heretofore to use a form of center support the mounting and control of which has involved the use of a number of parts.

Heretofore I have proposed various types of 0 center supports for tube frames, such as those shown in my prior Patents Nos. 1,603,411 and 1,604,318. The former of these patents shows a support arm mounted on a system of levers and links to hold the arm in contact with the tube 25 frame, while the latter shows a carrier bar supported by and moving with the transfer arms around the transfer shaft. It is an important object of my present invention to provide an arm similar to that of the first patent but operated by 39 1 simpler mechanism which shall derive its operating force from the transfer shaft and possess the advantages of the structure shown in the second patent.

As the tube frame moves from the chain toward 35 tuft forming position it is likely to vibrate sufficiently to interfere with correct entry of the tuft yarn tubes between the binder warps. It is another object of my present invention to employ the center or intermediate support as a vibration 40' arrester and I do this by moving the support into the descending path of the tube frame and holding it against substantial vertical motion during a slight downward motion of the transfer arms while the support is in contact with an intermedi- 45 ate part of the tube frame, thereby producing a slight upward bowing which causes sufficient strain on the tube frame to prevent vibration. This upward bowing occurs at a point in the descent of the tube frame not far removed from 50 the tuft yarn pulling-off position of the tube frame as the latter rises. At the time of pulling-o1f the support also tends to produce an upward bowing which counteracts the downward pull of the tuft yarns. From this it will be seen that the effort to 5Q bow the tube frame upwardly acts advanta geously on the descent of the tube frame to prevent vibration thereof and acts favorably on the ascent of the tube frame at the time of the pulling-off operation.

Although there are advantages as just described in producing an upward bowing of. the tube frame before and after it has reached tuft forming position, it is nevertheless desirable to have the tube frame as near straight as possible during the tuft forming operation so that the rear strands of the tufts may all be of the proper height. If the tube frame sags the rear strands at the center of the fabric are likely to be too high, and if the upward bowing should continue to tuft forming position these strands would be too low. It is therefore a further object of my present invention to effect a relative downward motion of the support with respect to the transfer arms when the tube frame is moving toward tuft forming position to remove the upward bowing and permit the tube frame to become straight when the tufts are being formed. During the subsequent raising of the tube frame toward tuft forming position the center support moves or tends to move through a greater distance than that traversed by the transfer arms. It is an important object of my present invention to achieve these two relative rates of motion or distances of travel by the use of means including one part which is reversible with respect to the other, the relative motion of the cooperating parts being 3 in one direction when the tube frame is moved down and being in the opposite direction when the tube frame is raised. As set forth hereinafter I accomplish this result by a stationary cam which cooperates with the intermediate support and the latter is preferably mounted pivotally on a carrier moving with the transfer shaft. By this arrangement the carrier and therefore the support are moved bodily first in one direction and then in the opposite direction due to the oscillation of the 10 shaft. I do not wish to be limited, however, to the particular arrangement set forth hereinafter since the relative motion is not necessarily effected by having the cam stationary.

Since the floating lever on which the center support is mounted derives its motion from the transfer shaft, the downward rate of motion of the center support would be the same as that of the end arms were the cam not designed to alter this rate. It is a still further object of my invention to provide a cam for operating the floating lever which will compound the concentric motion of the support around the transfer shaft with an additional motion around the pivot of the floating lever so that both motions will combine to cause 56 the support to move at a rate different from that of the transfer arms.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein a convenient embodiment of my invention is set forth,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the upper forward part of an Axminster loom showing the tube frame controlling mechanism with my invention applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but with the tube frame in tuft forming position preparatory to the pulling-off operation,

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view taken in the direc tion of arrow 3, Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a detail front elevation in the direction of arrow 4, Fig. 2,

Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views showing the relation of the tube frame and cloth or nose board of the loom, and

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic view showing the character of motion of the center support.

Referring to the drawing, I have shown part of an AXminster loom frame at Ill and have set forth also the transfer shaft H which receives a rocking motion by well-known mechanism not shown. Projecting forwardly from each end of the shaft is a carrier arm I2 one of which is shown in Fig. 1. Each carrier arm supports a vertical stud l3 on which is mounted a releasing and transfer lever M. The lever l4 has a rearwardly extending arm I5 by which it is rocked horizontally around stud |3 toward and from tube frame unlatching position. Extending forwardly from lever h; is an arm l6 carrying a clutch I! which normally is spaced from the tube frame to be out of the path along which the latter is moved by the transporting chain. The clutch is pivoted as at l8 to the arm l6 and is rocked by means of the rod i9 extending forwardly from a tipping lever 23 pivoted as at 2|. The tipping lever has a rearwardly extending arm 22 to receive an operating force from a vertical rod 23 reciprocated during the tuft forming operation to roll the tube frame in well-known manner. The carrier arm may be raised and lowered by means of a rod 24 operating in known manner first to lower the arm Hi from the position shown in Fig. l to that shown in Fig. 2, after which rod 24 rises to return the arm l6 and the tube frame to normal raised position where the tube frame is connected to the transporting chain.

The matter thus far described is of wellknown construction and of itself forms no part of my present invention. On each tuft forming beat of the loom the shaft II will be given a rocking motion which turns first in a left hand direction as viewed in Fig. 1 to lower the tube frame, after which the shaft is rocked back or to the right to raise the tube frame.

In carrying my invention into effect I provide an intermediate support brace designated generally at C and including a bar steel arm 30 bent to the proper shape to clear the harness frames and other loom parts not shown. The lower end of arm 3|! has a substantially horizontal forwardly projecting finger 3| adapted for engagement with the under side of the yarn tube carrier bar 32 forming part of the tube frame F. The upper part of the arm 30 is held by means of bolts 33 to a floating lever 34 having a rear- Wardly projecting arm 35 on which is rotatably mounted a roll 36. The arm 30 and lever 34 collectively form the intermediate support which is controlled by a track cam 31 receiving roll 36 and having a substantially straight horizontal portion 38 leading forwardly to an upwardly inclined slot 39. The cam slot is formed in a plate 40 supported by a foot 4| which is secured to the loom arch 42. The plate 40 is made horizontally adjustable on the foot 4| by means of bolts 43 held by the part 4| and passing through slots 44 in the plate 4|]. Vertical adjustment of the cam is effected by means of a bolt 45 threaded into the arch 42 and passing through a vertical slot 46 in the foot 4|. The cam slot 31 is therefore adjustable horizontally and vertically through a sufficient range to meet all requirements.

A carrier stand 41 having an arcuate foot 48 bolted to the shaft H as at 49 provides a pivotal support 50 at the upper part thereof for the lever 34. The foot 48 is clamped tightly to the shaft H by the bolt 49 which passes through a comparatively short slot 5| in the foot 48 to afford a limited angular adjustment of the arm 4| around the axis of shaft H, see Fig. 3. Vertical adjustment of the arm 30 relatively to the lever 34 is effected by reason of slots 52 in thearm 30 through which the screws 33 pass, see Fig. 4.

In operation, the chain 8|! will move a tube frame to transfer position as shown in Fig. 1 While the transfer arms l6 are raised with the shaft I turned to such a position as to place the carrier stand 4'! in the full line position shown in Fig. 1 corresponding to the location of roll 36 in the rear part of horizontal slot 38. After the arms |6 have movedtoward the ends of the tube frame by horizontal motion around their axes l3 as is well understood to release the tube frame from the chain, the shaft II will have a counter-clockwise angular motion as viewed in Fig. 1 to lower the tube frame and the arms l6. During this motion the carrier stand 41 moves to the left and the roll 36 moves forwardly in the horizontal slot 38 toward the inclined or curved slot 39.

The finger 3| will move forwardly from the full to the dotted line position of Fig. 1 before or at least not later than the sagging central part of the tube frame reaches the upper surfaces of finger 3|. While the roll 36 is still controlled by the horizontal slot 38 to prevent substantial descent of the finger 3|, the arms I6 continue their downward motion a sufficient amount with respect to finger 3| to cause a relative upward bowing of the tube frame, placing the latter under sufficient strain to prevent vibration of the frame. The parts are so related that the arm 30 starts to move down after the desired upward bowing of the tube frame has occurred, this downward motion being effected by movement of the roll 36 along the inclined slot 38 as the transfer shaft continues to turn.

As the tube frame nears tuft forming position it will be rocked about center I8 by rod l9 to effect the well-known rolling-in operation one intermediate stage of which is shown in Fig. 5 with the yarn Y extending through the warp binders B and lying along the rear inclined face 6! of the nose board 6| which may be formed substantially though not necessarily as shown in prior patent to Dacey No. 1,958,130. The tube frame is held temporarily in the position shown in Fig. 5 long enough to permit the insertion of a double pick of filling P between the binders and behind the tuft yarn Y, after which the reed R beats the pick of filling and the tuft over the hook 62 of the nose board. The parts are now in the position shown in Fig. 6 with the rear strand 63 of the color yarn projecting upwardly behind the pick of filling P and in front of the hook 62. This leaves the rear strand 63 comparatively tightly held but it will be obvious that these rear strands 63 must be of the same height across the entire width of the loom to produce perfect cloth. This requires that the tube frame shall be straight when in the positions shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

This straightening is effected by causing finger 3| to descend faster than arms l6, as indicated diagrammatically in Fig. '7. The full line position of the parts 34 and IS in Fig. 7 represents the condition at the beginning of the down motion of the finger 3| after the tube frame has been bowed upwardly, finger 3| being higher than arms I6. As shaft rotates in a counter-clockwise direction the'arms it will descend and carry the ends of the tube frame toward the cloth along an arouate path concentric with shaft as is customary in Axminster looms. During this same interval the carrier stand 41 will move from the full to the dotted position of Fig. '7, corresponding to the position of Fig. 2, thus causing roll 36 to move up a rise 10 in the track cam 39 eccentric with respect to shaft l. The rate at which finger 3| descends is determined, therefore, not only by the angular motion of stand 47 and pivot 56 to the left, but also by angular motion of arm 34 in a counter-clockwise direction around the pivot 50 induced by the rise 18. The rate at which finger 3| moves is faster than that of arms l5 and by the time these parts have reached pulling-off position arm I6 and finger 3| are in substantial horizontal alignment and the tube frame straight.

After the parts have reached the position shown in Fig, 6 there will be an upward motion of the tube frame sufficient to pull off yarn from the spool S for the next row of tufts to be laid by that particular tube frame. This upward or pulling-oif motion is accomplished by a right hand or rearward motion of the carrier stand 41 with an attending downward motion of the roll 36 along slot 39. As the roll retraces its path over rise 15 there will be an upward motion of finger 3| relatively to arms 5, the motions of these parts being similar to the descending motions but in the reverse direction due to the opposite movements of shaft and roll 36. The faster rate of rising of finger 3| would cause upward bowing of the tube frame were it not for the fact that the downward strain of the tuft yarns during the pulling-off operation just offsets or counteracts the tendency to bow the frame upwardly. The result is that the tube frame is straight at the end of the pulling-off operation and the knives not shown can be operated with assurance that the next row of tufts will be of the right height. Upward motion of the tube frame from the end of the pulling-off stroke is effected by a raising of the arms l6 and a continued motion to the right on the part of carrier stand 4! which restores the roll 36 to the rear part of horizontal slot 38. The various adjustments already described for altering the location of slot 3?, carrier stand 4'! with respect tothe shaft II, and arm 3|! relatively to lever 34 afford means for locating the finger 3| correctly and requiring it to have a path of movements accommodated to the motion of the tube frame.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided simple mechanism for moving and controlling the intermediate support in such a way as to require it to arrest tube frame vibration by an upward bowing of the frame during descent. It will also be seen that the support moves down at a rate faster than that of the transfer arms so that the tube frame is straight when reaching tuft forming position, thereby insuring uniform height an upward bowing of the tube frame which, however, is counteracted by the downward pull of the tuft yarns. These results are accomplished by mounting the intermediate support so that it derives its primary movement from the transfer...

shaft, which movement, however, is controlled by the cam 31 which causes the support to move at a rate faster thanthe transfer arms when moving toward and away from tuft forming position. The point at which the finger 3| first engages the tube frame ondownward motion of the latter is substantially the same as the pulling-off position on the reverse or rising motion of the tube frame and it is for this reason that the single cam track 39 with its rise 10 is effective not only to arrest vibration of the tube frame as it descends but also support the same at the time of pulling-off. I do not wish, however, to be limited to an operation of my invention wherein the first engagement of the finger 3| with the tube frame is necessarily,

at the same level as the pulling-off position, since it is sufiicient for the purposes of the invention if the first upward bowing of the tube frame is sufficient to arrest vibration, if the tube frame is straight when in tuft forming position, and if the tube frame is adequately braced at the time" o-f pulling-off. The finger 3| has two arcuate movements, one around shaft H and the other around pivot 50, and it is the compounding of these two curved motions which gives the advan- I tion and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In an Axminster loom operating with a tube frame having tuft yarns, transfer means to move the ends of the tube frame along a given path to tuft forming position and then reverse the motion of said tube frame along the path to yarn pullingoff position, an intermediate support for the tube frame, connections between the transfer means and the intermediate support to cause the latter to move with the transfer means, control means to regulate the movement of the intermediate support and cause the latter to have an upward motion from tuft forming position to pulling-off position at a faster rate than the rate at which the transfer means moves from tuft forming to pulling-off position to tend to produce an upward bowing of the tube frame to offset the downward pull of the tuft yarns during the pulling-off operation.

2. In an Axminster loom operating with a tube frame, transfer means to engage the ends of the tube frame and move the latter reversely along a given path first to tuft forming position and subsequently to yarn pulling-off position, an intermediate support for the tube frame, means to move the support into said given path and hold the same at a point corresponding to the pullingoff position and in engagement with the tube frame asthe latter moves toward tuft forming position to produce an upward bowing of the tube frame to prevent vibration of the latter, additional means to cause the support to move toward tuft forming position with a faster rate of motion than that of the transfer means to effect a motion of the support toward tuft forming position relatively to said transfer means to straighten the tube frame for the tuft forming operation, said additional means requiring the support to move away from tuft forming position at a rate greater than that of the transfer means and tending to produce an upward bowing of the tube frame at the pulling-off point in said path to counteract the downward pull of the tuft yarns during the pulling-off operation.

3. In an Axminster loom operating with a tube frame having tuft yarns, transfer means to engage the ends of the tube frame and move the latter to tuft forming position and subsequently raise the tube frame in a yarn pulling-off operation along a given path, an intermediate support for the tube frame, a carrier for the intermediate support moving with the transfer means and imparting movement to the intermediate support, and a controller for the movement of the intermediate support to hold the latter in the path of the tube frame while the latter is movingtoward tuft forming position to produce an upward bowing of the tube frame to prevent vibration of the latter, said controller thereafter causing said intermediate support to move to tuft forming position at a rate faster than that with which the transfer means approaches tuft forming position to straighten the tube frame, said controller subsequently acting to cause the intermediate support to move from tuft forming to tuft yarn pulling-01f position at a rate greater than that of the transfer means to tend to produce an upward bowing of the tube frame to counteract the downward pull of the tuft yarns during the pulling-off operation.

4. In an Axminster loom operating with a tube frame having tuft yarns, transfer means to engage the ends of the tube frame and move the latter to tuft forming position and subsequently raise the tube frame in a yarn pulling-off operation along a given path, an oscillating transfer shaft turning in one direction to cause the transfer means to move toward tuft forming position and turning in the opposite direction to move the transfer means away from tuft forming position, an intermediate support for the tube frame carried by and movable by and relatively to the transfer shaft, and a controller for the intermediate support to cause the latter when moved by said shaft to move toward tuft forming position while in engagement with an upwardly bowed transfer at a faster rate than that of the transfer means while the transfer shaft is oscillating in one direction to cause the intermediate support to move downwardly relatively to the transfer means and allow the tube frame to become straight when in tuft forming position, said controller subsequently operative during the reverse oscillation of the transfer shaft to move the intermediate support away from tuft forming position at a rate faster than that of the transfer means to tend to produce an upward bowing of the tube frame to counteract the downward pull of the tuft yarns during the pulling-off operation.

5. In an Axminster loom operating with a tube frame having tuft yarns, transfer means to engage the ends of the tube frame and move the latter to tuft forming position and subsequently raise the tube frame in a yarn pulling-off operation along a given path,'an intermediate support for the tube'frame, a transfer shaft carrying the transfer means and supporting and imparting movements to the intermediate support, said shaft rocking inone directionto move the transfer means and intermediate support toward tuft path of the tube frame andproduce an upward bowing of the latter as said shaft rocks to move the transfer means toward tuft forming position to arrest vibration of the tube frame, said controller causing the intermediate support to move downwardly relatively to the transfer means when the latter moves toward tuft forming position to cause the tube frame to be straight when in tuft forming position, and said controller operative during reverse rocking of the transfer shaft to move the intermediate support away;

from tuft forming position to pulling-01f position at a rate greater than that of the transfer means to tend to produce an upward bowing of the tube frame to counteract the downward pull of the tuft yarns of the tube frame duringthe pulling-off 3U operation.

6. In an Axminster loom operating with a tube frame having tuft yarns, transfer means to engage the ends of the tube frame and move the latter to tuft forming position and subsequently raise the tube frame in a yarn pulling-off operation along a given path, an intermediate support for the tube frame, a transfer shaftto which the transfer means is secured, said shaft rocking in one direction to move the transfer means to tuft forming position and rockingin the opposite direction to move the transfer means away from tuft forming position toward pulling-off position, a carrier for the support mounted on and rocking with the shaft to impart movements to the intermediate support derived from the transfer shaft, and a controller for the movements of the intermediate support with respect to which the latter reciprocates during the rocking of the transfer shaft, said controller causing the intermediate support to move into the path of the tube frame and engage the latter and produce a relatively upward bowing of the tube frame at a point in the descent of the tube frame corresponding to the pulling-off position of the tube frame to arrest vibration of the tube frame,

means on the controller to cause the intermediate support to move toward tuft forming position at a rate greater than that of the transfer means to remove the bowing of the tube frame when the latter reaches tuft forming position as the transfer shaft moves in said one direction, the last named means operating during the relative reciprocation of the intermediate support and said controller to cause the intermediate support to move from tuft forming position to pulling-off position at a faster rate than that of the transfer means when the transfer shaft is rocking in said opposite direction to tend to produce an upward bowing of the tube frame to counteract the downward pull of the tuft yarn during the pulling-ofi operation.

'7. In an Axminster loom operating with a tube frame having tuft .yarns, transfer means to engage the ends of the tube frame and move the latter to tuft forming position and subsequently raise the tube frame in a yarn pulling-off operation along a given path, an intermediate support for the tube frame, a carrier for the support, a transfer shaft connected to and moving the transfer means and on which the carrier is mounted, said shaft rocking in one direction to move the transfer means and intermediate support toward tuft forming position and rocking in the opposite direction to move the transferring means and intermediate support away from tuft forming position toward pulling-off position, and a stationary cam to control the movements of the intermediate support, said cam having a part to cause the intermediate support to move into the path of the tube frame as the latter moves toward tuft forming position and engage said tube frame to produce a relative upward bowing of the latter to arrest vibration of the tube frame, said cam having a second part with respect to which the intermediate support reciprocates, said second part causing the intermediate support to move toward tuft forming position at a rate faster than that of the transfer means when the transfer shaft is rocking in said one direction to cause the tube frame to become straight when in tuft forming position, rocking of said transfer shaft in said opposite direction moving the transfer means and intermediate support from tuft form ing to pulling-off position and causing the intermediate support to reciprocate relatively to the controller and move back over said second part, the latter thereupon causing the intermediate support to move toward pulling-off position at a rate faster than that of the transfer means to tend to produce an upward bowing of the tube frame to counteract the downward pull of the tuft yarns during the pulling-off operation.

8. In an Axminster .loom operating with a tube frame having tuft yarns, transfer means to engage the ends of the tube frame and move the latter to tuft forming position and subsequently raise the tube frame in a yarn pulling-off operation along a given path, an intermediate support for the tube frame, a transfer shaft carrying the transfer means and rocking in one direction to move the transfer means toward tuft forming position and rocking in the opposite direction to move the transfer means toward pulling-off position, a pivotal support for the intermediate support mounted on and moving with the transfer shaft and having the axis thereof spaced from the axis of said transfer shaft, and a stationary controller cam to engage the intermediate support and determine the movements thereof during rocking of the transfer shaft, said controller having a part to cause the support to move into the path of the tube frame and engage the latter to produce an upward bowing of said tube frame to arrest vibration of the tube frame, and said controller cam having a second part to cause the intermediate support to move toward tuft forming position at a faster rate than that of the transfer arms by a control exercised partly by the transfer shaft and partly by said second part of the control cam to cause the tube frame to be straight when in tuft forming position, and said second part of the control cam acting during said opposite rocking of the transfer shaft to cause the intermediate support to move from tuft forming to pulling-off position at a rate faster than the rate of the transfer means by a control exercised partly by the opposite rocking of the transfer shaft and said second part of the cam to tend to produce an upward bowing of the tube frame to counteract the downward pull of the tuft yarns during the pulling-off operation.

9. In an Axminster loom operating with a tube frame having tuft yarn, an oscillating transfer shaft, transfer arms supported by and moving with the shaft when the latter turns in one direction to move the tube frame to tuft forming position and moving with the shaft when the latter turns in the opposite direction to move the tube frame from tuft forming position to yarn pullingoif position, an intermediate support for the tube frame, a pivotal mounting for the support laterally displaced from the axis of the shaft and moving with the latter, a fixed cam engaging the support and controlling the motion thereof, said cam having a part operative during the first part of the turning of the shaft in said one direction to cause the support to move into the path of the descending tube frame and remain substantially at the level of the tube frame when the latter is in yarn pulling-off position while in engagement with the tube frame during descent thereof to produce an upward bowing of the tube frame and arrest vibration of the tube frame, said cam having another part operative during further turning of the shaft in said one direction t5 cause the support to move toward tuft forming position at a rate faster than the rate of the transfer arms, causing the support to be at substantially the same level as the transfer arms when the tube frame reaches tuft forming position to remove the aforesaid upward bow of the tube frame and cause the latter to be straight, said second part of the cam operative during reverse motion of the shaft in said opposite direction to cause the support to move from tuft forming toward yarn pulling-off position at a faster rate than that of the transfer arms to tend to produce an upward bow of the tube frame to counteract the downward pull of the yarn of the tube frame during the pulling-off operation.

10. In an Axminster loom having a tube frame provided with tuft yarns, transfer means to move the ends of the tube frame toward tuft forming position and yarn pulling-off position, an intermediate support for the tube frame movable with the transfer means, and reversely acting means to control the movement of the intermediate support, said reversely acting means when moving in one direction causing the intermediate support to engage the tube frame between the ends thereof and produce an upward bow in said tube frame by downward motion of the latter to arrest vibration thereof, said reversely acting means thereafter causing said intermediate support to move to tuft forming position at a faster rate of motion than the rate of motion of said transfer means to straighten the tube frame when the latter is in tuft forming position, and said reversely acting means when moving in the opposite direction causing the intermediate support to move toward pulling-off position at a rate of motion faster than the rate of motion of the transfer means to tend to produce an upward bowing of the tube frame to counteract the downward pull I of the tuft yarns during the pulling-off operation.

11. In an Axminster loom having a tube frame provided with tuft yarns, transfer means to move the tube frame downwardly to tuft forming position and thereafter raise the tube frame to pulling-off position, an intermediate support to engage the tube frame between the ends thereof, an actuator for the intermediate sup-ports to move the latter in one direction when the transfer means moves toward tuft forming position and to move said support in the opposite direction when the transfer means moves from tuft forming to tuft pulling-off position, and a reversible controller for the intermediate support to determine the movements thereof derived from the actuator, said controller operative to start movement of the intermediate support when in engagement with the tube frame toward tuft forming position when said intermediate support is farther than said transfer means from the tuft forming position, said controller thereafter operative during descent of the transfer means to move the intermediate support through a greater distance than that through which the transfer means moves to effect straightening of the tube frame when the latter is in tuft forming position, and said controller operative during rising motion of the transfer means to tend to move the intermediate support while in engagement with the tube frame through a distance greater than that moved by the transfer means from tuft forming position to pulling-off position and thereby counteract the downward pull of the tuft yarn during pulling-off operation.

12. In an Axminster loom having a tube frame provided with tuft yarns, transfer means to move the tube frame downwardly to tuft forming position and thereafter raise the tube frame to pulling-off position, an intermediate support to engage the tube frame between the ends thereof, an actuator for the intermediate support to move the latter in one direction when the transfer means moves toward tuft forming position and to move the intermediate support in the opposite direction when the transfer means moves from tuft forming to tuft pulling-off position, and a reversible controller for the intermediate support to determine the movements thereof derived from the actuator, said controller operative to hold the intermediate support in contact with the tube frame during lowering of the transfer means to a given point which is nearer tuft forming position than said intermediate support when so held, thereby producing an upward bowing of the tube frame to arrest vibration thereof, said controller thereafter operative to move the intermediate support downwardly during descent of the transfer means from said given point by an amount equal to the distance between said given point and tuft forming position plus the distance said intermediate support is held above said given point, thereby straightening the tube frame when the latter is in tuft forming position, and said controller tending during upward movement of the transfer movement to move the intermediate support while in engagement with the tube frame through a distance greater than that traversed by the transfer means when moving from tuft forming to pulling-off position to tend to produce an upward bowing of the tube frame and thereby counteract the downward pull of the tuft forming yarn.

13. In an Axminster loom having a tube frame with tuft yarns, transfer means to carry the tube frame downwardly to tuft forming position and then upwardly to pulling off position, an intermediate support arm for the tube frame moving ,with the transfer means and remaining in supporting relation with the tube frame as the latter moves toward and from tuft forming position, means including two connected parts which have relative motions in opposite directions, one of said parts connected to the support and the other part moving with the transfer means, and additional means to cooperate with said one part to cause the latter to have positive motions when moving relatively to the other part, the additional means causing said one part to exert a positive force on said support arm while in engagement with the tube frame to move said support arm toward tuft forming position when said parts move relatively in one direction and said additional means thereafter causing said one part to exert a positive force on the support arm as the same moves fromtuft forming position to pulling-off position when said parts move relatively in the opposite direction, the positive control of the support arm ef-, fecting acorresponding positive control of the intermediate part of the tube frame.

WILLIAM W. ROBERTSON. 

